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Ashes first test squad

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The fact we are struggling for openers shows what a sorry state South African and NZ cricket is in atm!

Edit - Root needs to bat 3, which helps the rest of the line up. We have a lot of good bowling options - the batting is very worrying.
 
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chunkylover53 said:
Moeen 2019
14 wickets @ 23

Moeen 2018
34 wickets @ 29

That’s tests obviously
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What's his record like for the current summer season, when you're done being a Smart Alec?

rentaghost said:
Too simplistic. Sibley ‘window of success’ against 80mph seam bowling is too short and no gauge for the challenge of opening the batting against Starc, Hazlewood etc. It’s Mark Lathwell and 1980 selection policy stuff. What do you do when fails in his first two tests looking completely out of his depth? Next cab on the rank?
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Sibley scored 30-odd and 74 against the Australian bowlers the other week
 
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smoker said:
What's his record like for the current summer season, when you're done being a Smart Alec?



Sibley scored 30-odd and 74 against the Australian bowlers the other week
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While it’s not really the same fair play to him for that. The lack of options means almost every suggestion won’t please many.

Not sure where you are going with your Ali argument like. All the lad did was show his excellent recent test record.
 
rentaghost said:
All opinions and while we continue to struggle no ideas are daft ideas. I wouldn’t go for Sibley. To me he’s a completely unproven county player who has suddenly struck form. The difference from what he is facing is off the scale and if far better and more proven openers such as Lyth, Stoneman, Jennings, Burns etc cant make it I can’t see a player written off a year ago will. I would be happy to go Burns, Vince, Roy but appreciate it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
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Aye. That's why I am sticking with Burns for now. There is Crawley too, who may grow because he's young.

Not having Vince though. Would sooner have Ballance brought back. They've both failed and had countless chances, but at least the latter piles the runs on incessesently in county cricket.

smoker said:
Absolutely laughable dropping Leach while Burns, Bairstow, Denly and Ali still get picked.



Joe's human shield.
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I think I'm right in saying that over the course of the entire winter, in Sri Lanka and West Indies, in spin-friendly conditions, Leach posted better figures than Ali just once in twelve innings.

There was a clear bowl-off between them (and Rashid) and Ali won.

He also didn't, unlike Leach, get smashed out of the attack at eight an over by the Irish middle order only days ago.

The wealth of evidence really is compelling that Ali is a better spinner than Leach. Everything else is moot, which is why the selectors have gone that way.

Since he came back in the side against India, his test record has been excellent as someone has already pointed out, by posting his figures.

chunkylover53 said:
In what format?
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Well at test level it's better than Leach's, that's for sure.

Steak Pie said:
Think Malan is unlucky not to get a recall. Bang in form, has an hundred v the Aussies.
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Not a bad shout, but he really struggled with the moving ball. Having said that, we could do worse than him at three. He's a competitor.
 
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14 man squad smacks of either indecision or lack of faith in the fitness of some of the bowlers

Clearly the top 7 is nailed on

Burns, Roy, Denly, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Bairstow

and assuming we are playing a spinner then Ali is a cert at 8

leaving Curran (unlikely), Woakes (probably because of his batting), Archer (maybe not), Broad (probable) and Anderson (dead cert) to fight it out over 3 places

2 from Woakes, Archer and Broad for me - a lot will depend on the wicket, the weather and whether Anderson & Archer are fully fit

I just hope we don't go in with 6 bowlers and fuck up the balance of the team again. 5 bowlers plus Root/Denly is more than sufficient

Mainze said:
Roy
Denly
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Woakes
Ali
Broad
Archer
Anderson

No matter what you select the top order is weak as piss :neutral:
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Pretty much this is what I hope doesn't happen but quite possibly will
 
Do we really need pace that much .. these are the Australians pace is what they're used to. And we're playing in England there's going to be more sideways movement than the Aussies like. sure provide the captain with a pace option but it will be bowlers like Anderson who will take the most wickets.
 
TopCat said:
14 man squad smacks of either indecision or lack of faith in the fitness of some of the bowlers

Clearly the top 7 is nailed on

Burns, Roy, Denly, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Bairstow

and assuming we are playing a spinner then Ali is a cert at 8

leaving Curran (unlikely), Woakes (probably because of his batting), Archer (maybe not), Broad (probable) and Anderson (dead cert) to fight it out over 3 places

2 from Woakes, Archer and Broad for me - a lot will depend on the wicket, the weather and whether Anderson & Archer are fully fit

I just hope we don't go in with 6 bowlers and fuck up the balance of the team again. 5 bowlers plus Root/Denly is more than sufficient


Pretty much this is what I hope doesn't happen but quite possibly will
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They simply have to stack the middle/lower order. We officially now have no top order.
 
Bri said:
Do we really need pace that much .. these are the Australians pace is what they're used to. And we're playing in England there's going to be more sideways movement than the Aussies like. sure provide the captain with a pace option but it will be bowlers like Anderson who will take the most wickets.
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It depends mate. Prepare pitches like we did at Lords and the Oval last time they were here and Smith scored 400 runs then yes we do. Prepare typical English seamers then not necessarily
 
Comeback_Kenwyne said:
Not a bad shout, but he really struggled with the moving ball. Having said that, we could do worse than him at three. He's a competitor.
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Will never be the answer but he's a grafter and has a bit of form and experience, as good a shout as any IMO.

I would definitely try ringing round the dairy farms of Essex as well, just in case.
 
Steak Pie said:
Will never be the answer but he's a grafter and has a bit of form and experience, as good a shout as any IMO.

I would definitely try ringing round the dairy farms of Essex as well, just in case.
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Aye, I know. Magical thought it was, that 100 at the Oval has stuffed us as he'll be thinking in can hardly end better. Would have been better if Bumrah had sent him packing with a duck.
 
Mainze said:
Roy
Denly
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Woakes
Ali
Broad
Archer
Anderson

No matter what you select the top order is weak as piss :neutral:
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This is what should happen, especially as doubts over Anderson and archers fitness. Might as well take the extra bowling option as the batters are a joke. Think I’d move Woakes up though to 4, stokes 5, butler 6 and Bairstow 7. Maybe Ali 11? 😩
 
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